![]() And a big earthquake happens on average in this area once every 150 or 200 years, which is why the region is long overdue for a major quake. The San Andreas fault’s southernmost stretch has not ruptured since about 1680 - more than 330 years ago, scientists estimate. Seismologists have been closely tracking a swarm of earthquakes just south of the end of California’s mighty San Andreas fault, which experts consider overdue for a major earthquake, with a magnitude of 7 or greater.Īny significant seismic activity near a major earthquake fault is a cause for concern, scientists say, because of the fear it could awaken it and trigger a massive temblor. “It’s been almost a week since the swarm activity has subsided, and so that’s about the time window we’d be looking at for its effects to diminish.” “It’s getting pretty close to the background level - which is not zero there’s always a chance of having a major earthquake,” Graves said. Geological Survey research seismologist Rob Graves said he thought the elevated risk of a San Andreas earthquake has largely receded to the background level of risk found in any given week. Of swarm activity at the Salton Sea, “it really hasn’t been very active in the last couple of days. “I would say the risk is declining,” Jordan said. Jordan, director of the Southern California Earthquake Center, said Monday afternoon that the earthquake swarm about 150 miles southeast of Los Angeles has been “decaying away nicely. The risk of a big quake was highest during and directly after the quake swarm, experts said. ![]() ![]() “We’re looking at alternative approaches, rather than doing $20 million worth of work.” “For a bankrupt city, that’s a tough challenge,” Scott said. The estimated cost of retrofitting the building is more than $20 million, Scott said. “Other earthquakes have changed California seismic codes even further, to the point where the current City Hall building in San Bernardino is an example of everything you would not build today,” Scott said.Ī 2007 report noted the potential instability of the building in the event of a major earthquake, Scott said. After that earthquake, he said, seismic codes changed significantly. The City Hall building was constructed before the Sylmar earthquake in 1971, according to Scott. ![]() The city had already been planning to vacate the seven-story building within the next few months. ![]()
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